The story went back one month...
"What? You're saying an elite fleet might attack our rear?" Chairman Kruze abruptly rose to his feet.
The council members present looked equally shocked.
"Yes. This is intelligence the All Things Unity Society's Black Steward just sent over." Leon Assad looked grave.
Indeed, the moment Nie Yun received the intelligence, he had generously "gifted" them the news of the Iron Wall Fleet's imminent invasion.
By the time everyone finished listening to Leon's report, their expressions had turned exceptionally grim.
"To think they've found a shortcut to the Caldari Region. This doesn't look good!"
"Just as we feared, getting involved in a struggle between two powers means pulling someone else's chestnuts out of the fire!
Look, now we've even drawn the Second Prince's own elite forces here-a massive fleet of over three thousand warships, all battle-hardened.
The Locke Conglomerate alone was already so difficult to deal with. The Second Prince's elite troops are bound to be even stronger. How are we supposed to stop them?"
"Struggles for the throne have always been the most dangerous. We rushed into this without knowing the full picture on either side. We really were too hasty..."
Uneasy, several opposition council members took the opportunity to discreetly express their dissatisfaction with the earlier decision.
Before Kruze could speak, however, Victor, who had always been at odds with him, frowned and swept a piercing gaze over them.
"What good does saying this now do? We already have the All Things Unity Society's Wormhole Expansion Technology. Do you really think we can take the benefits without accepting any risk?
Our immediate priority is to figure out how to deal with the approaching crisis, not pass the blame!"
Victor's words made his position clear. He evidently had no intention of undermining Kruze when